Collaborative Student Assessment through Google Docs
In a socially mediated world where more and more is focused on the sound byte, formal writing is becoming a lost art. What was once engagement through the written words between individuals has moved online to a social setting. Rather than fight the “paperless classrooms” that have evolved, let’s embrace the technologies to enhance student writing. I examine Google Docs collaboration mode and how to best engage student writers in meaningful exchanges of participatory writing and peer editing. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of how to implement Google Docs in their classes immediately to enhance literacy and encourage a dialogue between writer and reviewer.
All peer editing is done online in large group (where they choose whose they do) or smaller group (where 2-4 students "collaborate" their papers to each other and also to the instructor for guidance).
Sample small group peer edit: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgjxghr_48dm5q9dcc
Edit/View
Choose to "view" to students who you want to have read access only. (e.g. instruction sheets, handouts)
Choose to "edit" to students who you want to be able to edit the file. (e.g. peer drafts, collaborative rubrics, sign up sheets, etc...)
When editing a GDoc, use Ctrl-M to input a comment. They will include your name and time/date stamp. Unlike Word, they cannot be clicked on to approved/rejected.
Allow students to create their own rubrics. Collaborate a simple file with the grading criteria you have to meet for the class. Give them a time frame in which they're required to give their "two cents" if they'd like.
One example (since lost from me) was 40 pages of notes from 100+ students over a weekend.
Another example, sometimes the kids get creative in their responses.
In small groups, students were encouraged to use GDocs to have small group discussions. Here's on on McCourt's Teacher Man where kids used different colors to differentiate who is speaking or commenting. http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfgknxmn_68f63ht3g3
Fun with Docs: 6 Word Novels
My students were required to write six word novels. We gave them "collaborative" access to the file with just a few lines on it; the very next day we opened the file to share. Click here to see what they came up with on their own over night. http://docs.google.com/View?id=d6xx9h7_26c79gdxcg
Want to participate? Add your own six word story here:
Formatting - GDocs formatting keeps getting better but still has miles to come. Sharing - there is a 200 member limit to the number of people shared to a file
Documents
Spreadsheets
Presentations
Peer Editing Writing
All peer editing is done online in large group (where they choose whose they do) or smaller group (where 2-4 students "collaborate" their papers to each other and also to the instructor for guidance).Sample small group peer edit: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgjxghr_48dm5q9dcc
Edit/View
Choose to "view" to students who you want to have read access only. (e.g. instruction sheets, handouts)Choose to "edit" to students who you want to be able to edit the file. (e.g. peer drafts, collaborative rubrics, sign up sheets, etc...)
Rubrics
Collaborative Rubrics
Allow students to create their own rubrics. Collaborate a simple file with the grading criteria you have to meet for the class. Give them a time frame in which they're required to give their "two cents" if they'd like.One example (since lost from me) was 40 pages of notes from 100+ students over a weekend.
Another example, sometimes the kids get creative in their responses.
Small group passage discussion
In small groups, students were encouraged to use GDocs to have small group discussions. Here's on on McCourt's Teacher Man where kids used different colors to differentiate who is speaking or commenting. http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfgknxmn_68f63ht3g3Fun with Docs: 6 Word Novels
My students were required to write six word novels. We gave them "collaborative" access to the file with just a few lines on it; the very next day we opened the file to share. Click here to see what they came up with on their own over night. http://docs.google.com/View?id=d6xx9h7_26c79gdxcgWant to participate? Add your own six word story here:
Known Limits
Formatting - GDocs formatting keeps getting better but still has miles to come.Sharing - there is a 200 member limit to the number of people shared to a file
Resources
Simple Google Docs Tour: http://www.google.com/google-d-s/tour1.htmllMarzano's Instructional Strategies and Google Apps/Docs
http://www.willard.k12.mo.us/co/tech/google.htm
Great simple tutorial from MSU on all steps of use GDocs: http://edutech.msu.edu/online/GoogleDocs/GoogleDocs.html
TeacherTube video on Google Docs overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIjLzXJ-Mjo
Devon Christopher Adams
devoncadams@gmail.comTinyurl.com/devoncadams
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